Dirting a tank help

So I've decided I want to dirt my 15 gallon once I figure out where to put it. I'm wondering if I should use miracle grow or mineralized topsoil? If I use miracle grow do I mineralize that too? I would like to avoid worrying about ammonia from the soil, mineralizing seems to be safer. Do I do 1.5 inch each of dirt and sand? Are there any issues with the substrate becoming anaerobic? I'm going for a low tech moderate to heavily planted tank.

 

sand becomes anaerobic after a while if the bed is to deep, but if you do a small layer of sand and poke around in it every now and then... if you do, HEAVILY PLANT THAT SUCKER!!!

 

In my dirted tanks I have Miracle-Gro Organic Choice Potting Mix under a sand cap. The tank with the thicker sand cap has malaysian trumpet snails to keep the substrate from getting too anaerobic.

I didn't mineralize either of my dirt tanks; HOWEVER, I also didn't stock them with fish for a couple months until the filtration had completely caught up with the soil's ammonia production (this is a good way to do a fishless cycle, actually). My patience definitely paid off; the plants love it and I haven't had any issues with water quality.

If you can't bear to stare at an empty tank for 2-3 months, keep in mind that you can plant the tank before it's fish-safe... getting your plants all arranged and grown-in is a good use of the waiting period.

 

I set up my first dirt tank last weekend. I capped mine with pea gravel because of the risk of sand. I will say your plants don't go a far as you think. I pulled plants from my two 20 gallon tanks thinking they where very fill and would let me do one dirt tank. After taking cleaning them up and removing the dead or damaged leaves I don't think I have enough plants. So make sure you have lots of plants

 

Thanks for the replies. I think I will go with the miracle grow then and make sure I get lots of plants.